Several points. I have been to cuba and would reccomend a visit. I am a people and a cigar fan and enjoyed visiting with both.

I researched travel ban issues before I visited. Yes there have been people
who have been "caught". If you recieve a letter threatening a fine for your transgression you can contest this. I have read about people who have paid between 2500 and 5000 in us dollars in fine's. HOWEVER THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCCESFULL PROSECUTIONS IN FEDERAL COURT of the estimated several thousand people who have contested the " your are suspected of visiting Cuba and spending american currency there letters", the feds have sent out.

I suspect the public relations issue is why these courts have not been established and people prosecuted. There are several groups that have promised free representation in case Bush tries one last stand at his reich
style governence.

Coming back from mexico with my tommy bahama
shirt and shorts, i sailed thru immigration. Alas, I did not get my 15 minutes of fame. The New york times estimated in a travel article, that upwards of 250,000 americans travel to Cuba yearly, most underground.